Portable cooking stove

ABSTRACT

A portable cooking stove is disclosed. The cooking stove includes a base structure. At least one burner is positioned within the base structure. A burner plate is positioned above the burner and also above the base structure. When the stove is in use, a cooking surface may be placed on top of the burner plate. Multiple legs are connected to the base structure. The legs can be positioned in an extended configuration in which the base structure is positioned at a certain height above a ground surface. When the legs are positioned in the extended configuration, the height at which the base structure (and therefore the burner plate and any cooking surface that is placed on the burner plate) is positioned above the ground surface is adjustable without removing the legs from the base structure.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/861,588, filed Aug. 23, 2010, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/370,093, filed Aug. 2, 2010, the disclosures of each of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates generally to portable cooking stoves. Portable cooking stoves are useful in a variety of different settings. For example, portable cooking stoves can be used while camping or picnicking, for food preparation in temporary locations for outdoor events such as weddings and other celebrations, for emergency food preparation during disaster relief operations, and in many other situations.

Although several portable cooking stoves are commercially available, known portable cooking stoves suffer from various drawbacks. The present invention is an improved portable cooking stove that provides a variety of features that are not included in known portable cooking stoves.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A portable cooking stove is disclosed. The cooking stove includes a base structure. At least one burner is positioned within the base structure. The cooking stove may include only a single burner. Alternatively, the cooking stove may include multiple burners (e.g., two or three burners). A burner plate is positioned above the burner and also above the base structure. When the stove is in use, a cooking surface may be placed on top of the burner plate. Multiple legs are connected to the base structure. The legs can be positioned in an extended configuration in which the base structure is positioned at a certain height above a ground surface. When the legs are positioned in the extended configuration, the height at which the base structure (and therefore the burner plate and any cooking surface that is placed on the burner plate) is positioned above the ground surface is adjustable without removing the legs from the base structure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a portable cooking stove in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, with legs of the stove shown in an extended configuration at an intermediate height;

FIG. 1A is a front perspective view of the portable cooking stove of FIG. 1, with the legs of the stove shown in the extended configuration at a maximum height;

FIG. 1B is a front perspective view of the portable cooking stove of FIG. 1, with the legs of the stove shown in the extended configuration at a minimum height;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the portable cooking stove of FIG. 1, with the legs of the stove in the extended configuration;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the portable cooking stove of FIG. 1, with the legs of the stove in the extended configuration;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the portable cooking stove of FIG. 1, with the legs of the stove in the extended configuration;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the portable cooking stove of FIG. 1, with the legs of the stove in the extended configuration;

FIG. 6 is a rear view of the portable cooking stove of FIG. 1, with the legs of the stove in the extended configuration;

FIG. 7 is a right side view of the portable cooking stove of FIG. 1, with the legs of the stove in the extended configuration;

FIG. 8 is a left side view of the portable cooking stove of FIG. 1, with the legs of the stove in the extended configuration;

FIG. 9 is a front perspective view of the portable cooking stove of FIG. 1, with the legs of the stove in a retracted configuration;

FIG. 10 is a rear perspective view of the portable cooking stove of FIG. 1, with the legs of the stove in the retracted configuration;

FIG. 11 is a rear view of the portable cooking stove of FIG. 1, with the legs of the stove in the retracted configuration;

FIG. 12 is a front view of the portable cooking stove of FIG. 1, with the legs of the stove in the retracted configuration;

FIG. 13 is an exploded view of the portable cooking stove of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 14 is a front perspective view of the portable cooking stove of FIG. 1, with a shoulder strap attached to the stove.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A portable cooking stove 10 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 1-14. In the following description, reference is made to FIG. 1 unless indicated otherwise.

The stove 10 includes a base structure 12. A burner 14 is positioned within the base structure 12. The burner 14 is a mechanical device that burns a gaseous fuel (e.g., propane) into a flame in a controlled manner. A burner plate 16 is positioned above the base structure 12. When the stove 10 is in use, a cooking surface, such as a grill box, may be placed on top of the burner plate 16.

The stove 10 includes four legs 18, namely, a first leg 18 a, a second leg 18 b, a third leg 18 c, and a fourth leg 18 d. The legs 18 are connected to the base structure 12.

The legs 18 are pivotable between an extended configuration and a refracted configuration. In other words, the legs 18 can be pivoted from an extended configuration to a refracted configuration, and vice versa. Thus, the stove 10 is capable of easy setup and disassembly. The legs 18 remain connected to the base structure 12 when the legs 18 are pivoted between the extended configuration and the refracted configuration.

The extended configuration of the legs 18 is shown in FIG. 1. When the legs 18 are in the extended configuration, the base structure 12 (and therefore the burner plate 16 and any cooking surface that is placed on the burner plate 16) is positioned at a certain height above the ground surface. Also, in the extended configuration, the legs 18 are extended downward and outward relative to the base structure 12. Thus, the legs 18 firmly support the base structure 12 at a height that is convenient for cooking tasks.

The refracted configuration of the legs 18 is shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. When the legs 18 are in the retracted configuration, the legs 18 are positioned underneath the base structure 12, substantially parallel to one another and to the burner plate 16. When the legs 18 are in the retracted configuration, the stove 10 may be used on top of another surface (e.g., a table). Alternatively, the legs 18 may be placed in the retracted configuration when the stove 10 is not in use and is being stored.

The legs 18 are telescoping legs 18. In other words, each of the legs 18 includes an upper section 22 and a lower section 24 that slides in and out of the upper section 22. In particular, the first leg 18 a includes an upper section 22 a and a lower section 24 a, the second leg 18 b includes an upper section 22 b and a lower section 24 b, the third leg 18 c includes an upper section 22 c and a lower section 24 c, and the fourth leg 18 d includes an upper section 22 d and a lower section 24 d.

When the legs 18 are in the extended configuration, the height of a particular leg 18 may be increased by sliding the lower section 24 of the leg 18 out of the upper section 22. Conversely, the height of a particular leg 18 may be decreased by sliding the lower section 24 of the leg 18 into the upper section 22.

Each of the legs 18 also includes a pin 26. When a particular leg 18 has been adjusted to the desired height, the pin 26 for that leg 18 may be inserted through the upper section 22 and also through the lower section 24 in order to lock the lower section 24 in place relative to the upper section 22.

Because the legs 18 are telescoping legs 18, the height of each of the legs 18 is individually adjustable when the legs 18 are in the extended configuration. For example, the height of the first leg 18 a can be adjusted independently of the height of any of the other legs 18 b, 18 c, 18 d. The same is true of the second leg 18 b, the third leg 18 c, and the fourth leg 18 d.

Being able to individually adjust the height of each of the legs 18 when they are in the extended configuration may be advantageous for several reasons. For example, the height at which the base structure 12 (and therefore the burner plate 16 and any cooking surface that is placed on the burner plate 16) is positioned above the ground surface can be adjusted to a desired level without removing the legs 18 from the base structure 12. This is illustrated in FIGS. 1, 1A, and 1B, which show the stove 10 with the legs 18 adjusted to an intermediate height (FIG. 1), a maximum height (FIG. 1A), and a minimum height (FIG. 1B), respectively.

Another advantage of being able to adjust the height of each of the legs 18 is that when the stove 10 is being used on uneven ground, the legs 18 can be adjusted to different heights so that the burner plate 16 is substantially level. Thus, even on an uneven surface, the stove 10 can be operated in a substantially leveled condition to prevent spills from pots and pans heated thereon.

The stove 10 includes first and second carrying handles 28 a, 28 b that are attached to opposite sides of the base structure 12. The carrying handles 28 make it relatively easy to move the stove 10 from one place to another. The stove 10 is light enough that it may be carried by hand, using one or both of the handles 28, when the stove 10 is not in use. To make it even easier to carry the stove 10, a shoulder strap 44 may be attached to the base structure 12 (see FIG. 14).

The carrying handles 28 are positioned so that when the legs 18 are in the extended configuration, the first carrying handle 28 a prevents the first and second legs 18 a, 18 b from being pivoted upward, and the second carrying handle 28 b prevents the third and fourth legs 18 c, 18 d from being pivoted upward.

Each carrying handle 28 includes a slot 30 that runs parallel to the length of the carrying handle 28. In particular, the first carrying handle 28 a includes a first slot 30 a, and the second carrying handle 28 b includes a second slot 30 b. The slot 30 within a particular carrying handle 28 allows objects (such as cooking utensils) to be hung from the carrying handle 28 while the stove 10 is in use.

Each carrying handle 28 also includes two attachment plates 32, one at each end of the carrying handle 28. In particular, the first carrying handle 28 a includes a first attachment plate 32 a and a second attachment plate 32 b (see FIG. 2). The second carrying handle 28 b includes a third attachment plate 32 c and a fourth attachment plate 32 d (see FIG. 2). The attachment plates 32 for a particular carrying handle 28 are perpendicular to the carrying handle 28.

The stove 10 includes multiple pivot brackets 36. Each leg 18 is connected to one of the attachment plates 32 of one of the carrying handles 28 via one of the pivot brackets 36. In particular, the first leg 18 a is connected to the first attachment plate 32 a, which is part of the first carrying handle 28 a, via a first pivot bracket 36 a. The second leg 18 b is connected to the second attachment plate 32 b, which is also part of the first carrying handle 28 a, via a second pivot bracket 36 b (see FIG. 2). The third leg 18 c is connected to the third attachment plate 32 c, which is part of the second carrying handle 28 b, via a third pivot bracket 36 c. The fourth leg 18 d is connected to the fourth attachment plate 32 d, which is also part of the second carrying handle 28 b, via a fourth pivot bracket 36 d (see FIG. 2).

Each of the pivot brackets 36 includes a first portion 38 and a second portion 40. The first portion 38 is pivotably connected to one of the attachment plates 32 of one of the carrying handles 28. The second portion 40 is connected to one of the legs 18. More specifically, the first portion 38 a of the first pivot bracket 36 a is pivotably connected to the first attachment plate 32 a, which is part of the first carrying handle 28 a. The second portion 40 a of the first pivot bracket 36 a is connected to the first leg 18 a. The first portion 38 b of the second pivot bracket 36 b is pivotably connected to the second attachment plate 32 b (see FIG. 2), which is also part of the first carrying handle 28 a. The second portion 40 b of the second pivot bracket 36 b is connected to the second leg 18 b (see FIG. 2). The first portion 38 c of the third pivot bracket 36 c is pivotably connected to the third attachment plate 32 c, which is part of the second carrying handle 28 b. The second portion 40 c of the third pivot bracket 36 c is connected to the third leg 18 c. The first portion 38 d of the fourth pivot bracket 36 d is pivotably connected to the fourth attachment plate 32 d (see FIG. 2), which is also part of the second carrying handle 28 b. The second portion 40 d of the fourth pivot bracket 36 d is connected to the fourth leg 18 d (see FIG. 2).

When the legs 18 are in the extended configuration, the first portion 38 of each of the pivot brackets 36 is substantially parallel to the burner plate 16. Also, for each pivot bracket 36, the first portion 38 of the pivot bracket 36 is joined to the second portion 40 of the pivot bracket 36 so that the smallest angle between the first and second portions 38, 40 of the pivot bracket 36 is greater than 90°. The combination of these two features makes it so that when the legs 18 are in the extended configuration, the legs 18 are extended downward and outward relative to the base structure 12.

The first portions 38 c, 38 d of the pivot brackets 36 c, 36 d on one side of the base structure 12 are longer than the first portions 38 a, 38 b of the pivot brackets 36 a, 36 b on the other side of the base structure 12. This feature makes it so that the legs 18 can be pivoted to the retracted configuration, in which the legs 18 are positioned underneath the base structure 12, substantially parallel to one another and to the burner plate 16. More specifically, in the refracted configuration, the first leg 18 a is positioned on top of the third leg 18 c on the front side of the stove 10 (see FIG. 12), and the second leg 18 b is positioned on top of the fourth leg 18 d on the back side of the stove 10 (see FIG. 11).

The stove 10 also includes a pair of crossbars 42 between each pair of legs 18. More specifically, the stove 10 includes a first crossbar 42 a between the first and second legs 18 a, 18 b, and a second crossbar 42 b between the third and fourth legs 18 c, 18 d. The crossbars 42 provide support to the legs 18, particularly when the legs 18 are in the extended configuration.

As previously discussed, the stove 10 described above is configured so that the height at which the base structure 12 (and therefore the burner plate 16 and any cooking surface that is placed on the burner plate 16) is positioned above the ground surface can be adjusted to a desired level without removing the legs 18 from the base structure 12. With the stove 10 that was just described, adjusting the height of the base structure 12 can be accomplished by adjusting the height of the telescoping legs 18. However, a portable cooking stove in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention may have a different mechanism for adjusting the height of the base structure (and cooking surface). For example, one alternative mechanism for adjusting the height of the base structure is a linkage system that includes a screw jack, where turning the screw jack changes the height of the base structure. Another alternative mechanism utilizes hydraulic jacks. Another alternative mechanism utilizes sliders that are pulled through slots, where pins are used to lock the base structure in place at the desired height. Yet another alternative mechanism utilizes folding legs.

It is to be understood that the claims are not limited to the precise configuration and components illustrated above. Various modifications, changes and variations may be made in the arrangement, operation and details of the systems, methods, and apparatus described herein without departing from the scope of the claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A portable cooking stove, comprising: a base structure; a burner positioned within the base structure; multiple legs pivotably coupled to the base structure, the multiple legs moveable between an extended configuration and a retracted configuration; first and second carrying handles coupled to opposite sides of the base structure; and multiple attachment portions coupled to the base structure, each attachment portion being positioned to correspond with one of the multiple legs such that each one of the multiple legs are pivotably coupled to the attachment portion; wherein the carrying handles are positioned so that when the legs are in the extended configuration, the carrying handles prevent the legs from being pivoted upward.
 2. The portable cooking stove of claim 1, wherein one of the multiple attachment portions are positioned adjacent to each end of the first and second carrying handles.
 3. The portable cooking stove of claim 1, wherein the multiple attachment portions extend in a perpendicular arrangement relative to the first and second carrying handles.
 4. The portable cooking stove of claim 1, wherein each of the multiple legs comprise a pivot bracket coupled to one end of the multiple legs so that each of the multiple legs are pivotable relative to the base structure and moveable to the retractable configuration.
 5. The portable cooking stove of claim 1, wherein the base structure comprises a burner plate positioned above the burner.
 6. The portable cooking stove of claim 1, wherein the multiple legs are positionable in the extended configuration such that the base structure is positioned at a certain height above a ground surface.
 7. The portable cooking stove of claim 6, wherein, upon the multiple legs being positioned in the extended configuration, the height at which the base structure is positioned above the ground surface is adjustable without removing the legs from the base structure.
 8. The portable cooking stove of claim 1, wherein each of the multiple legs include a length, the length of each of the multiple legs being individually adjustable.
 9. The portable cooking stove of claim 1, wherein, upon the legs being in the extended configuration, the multiple legs extend downward and outward relative to the base structure.
 10. The portable cooking stove of claim 1, wherein, upon the multiple legs being in the refracted configuration, the multiple legs are positioned below the base structure.
 11. The portable cooking stove of claim 1, wherein each of the multiple legs are telescoping legs.
 12. The portable cooking stove of claim 11, wherein: each of the telescoping legs comprises an upper section and a lower section that slides in and out of the upper section; and each of the telescoping legs comprises a pin that is inserted through the upper section and also through the lower section in order to lock the lower section in place relative to the upper section.
 13. The portable cooking stove of claim 1, wherein the multiple legs comprises a first pair of legs and a second pair of legs, the first pair of legs corresponding with the first carrying handle and the second pair of legs corresponding with the second carrying handle.
 14. The portable cooking stove of claim 13, wherein the first pair of legs include a first cross-bar extending therebetween, and wherein the second pair of legs include a second cross-bar extending therebetween.
 15. The portable cooking stove of claim 1, further comprising a shoulder strap attached to the base structure. 